Thursday, August 02, 2007

Meet The Press

Okay ... while it was cute for about 5 mins., with the official website and the Les Miserables cover and all, I gotta admit that this Cousin Alli thing is getting a bit out of hand. It's bad enough that she became a pseudoceleb when she was walking around in Britney Spears's shadow but now that she's going around comparing herself to Norah Jones and getting photographed all by herself, well, I think that things are going too far:

She's been best known for hanging out with Britney Spears, but now her "cousin" Alli Sims is aiming for a pop career of her own. Blogs have been watching Sims's Web site closely, and on Monday Spears's former assistant updated it to include her first song – a cover of "On My Own," from the stage musical Les Misérables ... And when it comes to her music, the Southerner says she's after a "soulful" sound, and the single on her Web site is "more of a filler song until I get my new stuff recorded. Honestly, we put that one up there because all the other ones I had put down in the past had a little more of a country vibe, and I do not want to go there at all." Further distinguishing herself from her famous friend, Sims also says, "I don't dance, I'm not pop. I have a more bluesy voice, more Norah Jones-ish. I don't want to appeal to just my age group and younger" ... Sims is making music with the likes of such in-demand producers as Evan Bogart and J.R. Rotem. "I hope everything falls into place, and maybe by January I will have a lot of things under my belt and get to release something," Sims says. "I just want to do what I love. [Music] is my passion." LOL! JR Rotem?! The dude who bragged about banging Britney Spears after the two of them collaborated on music together? Does this means that Cousin Alli is gonna have to start sleeping with him too? Blah ... if so, then she'll fit into the Hollywood establishment just fine. As much as I don't like Norah Jones, I feel bad for her that Cousin Alli is making the comparison. I'm sorry but pseudocelebs need not apply. [Source]

Nicole Richie is insisting she is a changed person for the sake of her unborn child, due in five months. "I would really want to be someone my child would look up to," Richie, 25, told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an interview that aired on Thursday's Good Morning America ... Richie also admitted that her upcoming four-day jail sentence for her DUI arrest on Dec. 11 leaves her "afraid of the unknown," but added, "This is my way ... of being an adult." After being described by Sawyer as "rich, reckless, in trouble" and into "drugs, rebellion [and being] frighteningly thin," Richie, with her Good Charlotte rocker boyfriend Joel Madden sitting at her side, said her behavior transformation came after seeing images on TV of children who had been killed by drivers under the influence. "That was our first real parent moment," interjected Madden, 28. Both he and Richie said those images forced her last Friday to change the plea in her case to guilty. Madden also admitted that when Richie was arrested, he saw it as a possible breaking point in their relationship. "This is a great time to walk away," he said he remembered thinking, further imagining his telling her, "Nicole, it's been great, but you just freaked me out." But, he said, "Or, you can go with your gut and, you know, my gut with Nicole has always been she's a great woman." Explaining what she had been doing just before her arrest – when police stopped her 2005 black Mercedes SUV as it was going the wrong way on a freeway off-ramp – Richie said, "I had smoked marijuana that day." "Just marijuana?" asked Sawyer. "Just marijuana," said Richie. "I had Vicodin in my system from that day. I never in my head thought that could play a part in your driving. Like, never did I think that. It was hours ago." Richie said she took the powerful pain killer for her severe menstrual cramps. "I literally thought I was okay to drive, and clearly wasn't. It was bad decision after bad decision after bad decision," she said. "It's been a pattern in my life. When I get into trouble, I try to get out of it" ... Pressed by Sawyer about drug use, Richie responded, "I don't take anything now." I love that Nicole was smiling ear to ear as she confirmed to Diane that she is indeed pregnant with Joel's baby. They both looked so happy to be sharing the news. Nicole also confessed that she wants to be the best parent she can be and has learned that she owes her baby her entire life. She wants to be a good mother in order to set a good example for her child, saying she wants her child to look up to her. For the sake of her new family, I hope she has nothing but success in her new life. In case you missed it, you can watch the entirety of Part 1 of the Diane Sawyer interview HERE. Part 2 airs tomorrow morning and will deal with Nicole's "scary" skinniness. [Source, thanks Lindsey]

Altho Nic/Joel have already taken to the TV airwaves to make their announcement, it appears that Nicole isn't really ready to face the paparazzi ... in fact, she might be ready to turn her back on the whole Hollywood "It" Girl image altogether as a new mom. Here are a few pics of Nic/Joel as they made a coffee run yesterday:

I can't imagine that the paps are going to lay off her anytime soon, especially with her upcoming jail sentence and then her full-blown pregnancy. I just hope that Nicole doesn't have to deal with any paparazzi-jostling of Britney Spears proportions cuz I'd hate to see Joel get in trubs for whippin' photog ass. [Source]

Additionally, Pink reader Angelina caught an acoustic performance by Joel and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte at the Wave House in San Diego, CA last night and sends in these pics to share with all of us:

Angeline reports that altho the show lasted under an hour, the guys put on an excellent performance. She also reports that the radio station DJs hosting the performance tried to get a response from Joel concerning the baby news but that Joel quietly stayed on topic and refused to be goaded into a confrontation. I know that Joel is a very private person when it comes to his personal life so don't expect him to be divulging any of his personal biz anytime soon. Nonetheless, I must extend my congrats and love, again, to the happy couple. As soon as Nicole gets the whole jail thing out of the way, they can move forward unfettered building their happy life together. [thanks Angeline]

Prince took a swipe at Madonna during his gig tonight (August 1) at the O2 Stadium in London. The show was the first of the 21 nights of the hits tour he will play at the former Millennium Dome. Before playing 'Black Sweat' he announced: "I got so many hits y'all can't handle me. I got more hits than Madonna's got kids." During the stunning show his band, with vocalist Shelby J taking lead, did a version of 'Crazy' by Gnarls Barkley. The show began with 'Purple Rain' which saw his dancers Twinz dressed in shocking pink and waving purple flags around the stage which was shaped like his trademark symbol. Prince told the crowd: "London I am here...Did you miss me?" During 'Musicology' members of the crowd got up stage. After the song finished he said: "How did you like the stage? I just got it. It's sexy right? We're playing real music - there are no loops. "I didn't sleep last night...I was just so excited to come here tonight." OOOOOH, I don't know if London can handle all the purple sexiness that is coming their way over the next 3 weeks -- he did 3 encores last night alone! By the looks of last night's setlist, Prince isn't holding back any of his classic hits:

LA Galaxy fans are certainly making their disappointment clear about the injury keeping David Beckham off the pitch. They held up "Wanted" posters of the star striker scrawled with "missing", "too scared" and "I lost". And there was no missing the banner "Bench it like Beckham", referring to the new signing's residence on the sidelines. Another disgruntled fan held up his handiwork: "Welcome to America where people like you get paid to do nothing." Beckham, however, wasn't even on the bench for Galaxy's tie with FC Dallas in the SuperLiga, Group A, Final. Spokesman Patrick Donnelly had already confirmed that the injured star would "not be traveling to Dallas". Now the club - and the fans - will be hoping he is match fit to line up against Toronto FC. So far he has only made it on to the pitch for the club as a late substitute against Chelsea. Beckham is receiving treatment daily for the injury, first suffered while playing for England on June 6. And he hasn't even had the chance to really get to know his team-mates - having missed training sessions as well as two other SuperLiga games. I realize I'm not the most neutral person on the matter of Becks but I do think it's a wee bit unfair to be angry at David Beckham because he has an injured ankle (but LOL at the kid who only wants to see the Spice Girl). I contend that it makes total sense that he rest his ankle instead of risking further injury that may lead to even more time off the field. That being said, I can see how fans may be disappointed that they aren't able to watch Becks in action ... especially those fans who don't live in LA and may not get to see him play until the next time he comes to town (whenever that may be). Rest up, Becksie ... I still lurve ya! [Source]

It appears that Becks has taken the time ordered his assistant to take the time to respond to his disappointed fans on his official website. Mr. Goldenballs has finally had some underling update his blog with a new post:

Boo. Even tho it appears that Becks is actually responding to his fans, it's just as I feared ... it doesn't look like this blog is going to be updated all that much and I find it hard to believe that he's taking the time to write out these posts himself. [Source]

In happier Becks news, here are a few screencaps from his TV show on the FOX Sports Channel where he's teaching kids how to play soccer ... or something like that:

It must be a *thrill* to get hands on attention from David Beckham ... I don't know what lesson he's trying to teach in that second picture but I'd be willing to learn all about it. Woot! [Source]

Mary Jane Olsen ... er, I mean Mary-Kate Olsen was on hand, along with Mary-Louise Parker and David Duchovny (among others) for the premiere of the third season of the Showtime drama Weeds (along with the premiere of the new show Californication) at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood last night. Here are a few pics from the red carpet:

I love that it took a show about marijuana to get Mary-Kate Olsen back on TV. I've been watching eps from season 2 of Weeds and I quite like it ... it'll be very interesting to see MK on the show. [Source]

Spice Girl singer Melanie Brown has filed a paternity suit against her former lover Eddie Murphy seeking child support for her 3-month-old daughter. Gloria Allred, the lawyer for Scary Spice, said the lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. It seeks to legally establish paternity and asks for unspecified child support. Allred added: "Murphy was promising to do the right thing, but to date he has not done the right thing. "Mr. Murphy can have all the babies he chooses to have, but his responsibility needs to be to his own children. [Brown] is seeking sole physical and legal custody." This week Murphy became engaged to his girlfriend of 10 months, Tracey Edmonds. Allred observed: "He bought a big diamond ring for his new fianceé. It is nice to be generous to others, but what about his own baby?" A DNA test in June confirmed that Murphy, 46, is the father of Brown's baby, Angel Iris Murphy Brown, who was born in April. The couple dated last year and Brown, 32, listed Murphy as the father on the child's birth certificate. At the press conference, Brown said: "I am here for one reason and one reason only – her name is Angel. Angel is my baby and Eddie's. She will always know that she was planned and wanted by both of us, but I want her to know that she has two parents who desire to be responsible for her during her life and who love her so much that they want to be a part of it." Boo ... this nasty situation just keeps getting nastier by the day. Honestly, I wouldn't want to have Eddie Murphy in my baby's life if I were her but good for Mel B. for sticking up for her little baby girl. Something tells me that Mel ain't gonna let up on this matter until she owns his balls. Yeah, Girl Power! [Source]

Whoops! It looks like Rihanna did something to her leg because the poor little lamb is having to shop around Beverly Hills, CA on crutches:

I really hope she gets better soon ... and I really hope she doesn't record a song about her new accessories. I don't know that I could take a song about crutches - utches - utches - ay - ay -ay right now. [Source]

The first installment of the short film series It's a Mall World that is airing exclusively during the new season of The Real World: Sydney on MTV and then on AE.com debuted last night during the Real World preview special. Here are a few caps of Mall World director Milo Ventimiglia making a little cameo in the short:

Milo plays the character of Jacob with his AMAZING sexyemo hair ... which I love (and miss) ... and which is why I'm posting the caps of him alone. Click HERE to watch the first installment of It's a Mall World at the AE.com website to check out the rest of episode 1. [Source via SimplySonia]

Vanity Fair magazine is featuring the new crop of hot young Hollywood actors in their new issue and have deemed these guys worthy of the acclaim:

Both Shia LeBoeuf and Zack Efron are really hot right now ... and Channing Tatum is just hot all the time ... so I get why they score a mention. Henry Cavill is a great up-and-coming actor who is featured in the amazing Showtime show The Tudors and will appear in Neil Gaiman's Stardust. Click HERE to see who else made the VF cut. [Source]

Siouxsie Sioux (of the amazing band Siouxsie and the Banshees) is mere moments away from making her debut as a solo artist with the release of her debut album Mantaray ... and by the looks of the sexy cover artwork for her first single Into a Swan, it looks like Siouxsie is ready to take on the world:

The woman is just pure hotness. I am so excited for her new album. You can hear 2 short clips of her new music at her new official website ... and there are other fun little goodies hidden in the site (click the moving butterflies). [thanks Mykah]

And finally, we know that Scarlett Johansson is the new spokesmodel for Louis Vuitton but did you know that they've added a couple more faces to their Fall campaign? Here are pics of Scarlett along with former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev and French actress Catherine Denueve:

Gorbechov neve struck me as an LV man but I can dig it. You gotta love a man who can appreciate a hot bag. These pics are pretty cool ... I much prefer Scarlett's new pics over the ones she appeared in for the Spring LV campaign. [Source]

Les News:

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Minneapolis, MN during this very difficult time. Please take the time today to send your positive thoughts as well.

Yesterday afternoon, Jim and I made the drive up to Malibu, CA to spend the afternoon lounging on Zuma beach together. The weather was glorious and we had a great time hanging out together. After we returned home, we went out for a quick sushi dinner and then I retired to begin packing for my week-long trip home to Detroit. I leave in a few hours ... but I'll be back, bright and earlyish tomorrow at the same Bat Time, same Bat Channel.